FOCUS

ULTIMATE MID BOOST

This pedal is discontinued, but it available until November 29 as part of our Klein Bottle launch.

Guitarists have long used tubescreamer-style overdrives as a clean mid boost by turning the gain down and cranking up the output. The FOCUS is the answer to the search for a better, more versatile mid boost pedal. Developed in collaboration with Adam "Nolly" Getgood from Periphery, the FOCUS employs variable bass and treble cut filters for control over top end grit and low frequency saturation, no matter how many strings your guitar has!

Click the different parts of the pedal to learn more.

TIGHT:

SMOOTH:

LEVEL:

Sets the frequency roll off point of the variable bass cut. Turn counterclockwise to cut bass frequencies for a tighter bottom end. RANGE: 70Hz to 1.5kHz.

Sets the frequency roll off point of the variable treble cut. Turn clockwise to cut treble frequencies for a smoother top end. RANGE: 320Hz to 7.2kHz.

Sets the gain of the output stage, up to 26dB of extra clean boost!

TIGHT:

SMOOTH:

LEVEL:

Sets the frequency roll off point of the variable bass cut. Turn counterclockwise to cut bass frequencies for a tighter bottom end. RANGE: 70Hz to 1.5kHz.

Sets the frequency roll off point of the variable treble cut. Turn clockwise to cut treble frequencies for a smoother top end. RANGE: 320Hz to 7.2kHz.

Sets the gain of the output stage, up to 26dB of extra clean boost!

TIGHT:

SMOOTH:

LEVEL:

Sets the frequency roll off point of the variable bass cut. Turn counterclockwise to cut bass frequencies for a tighter bottom end. RANGE: 70Hz to 1.5kHz.

Sets the frequency roll off point of the variable treble cut. Turn clockwise to cut treble frequencies for a smoother top end. RANGE: 320Hz to 7.2kHz.

Sets the gain of the output stage, up to 26dB of extra clean boost!

MIX:

SLOPE:

INTERNAL CONTROL:

Blends between the dry signal (counterclockwise), and the EQ signal (clockwise). Use the blend to roll off the strength of the bass and treble cuts.

Toggles each band between a 1-pole and 2-pole cut filter. More poles = sharper frequency rolloff.

The internal MAKEUP trimpot sets the makeup gain of the dry signal path. This trimpot lets you set the relative volume of the EQ and dry signal paths, or you can use it to add even more clean boost to the dry signal path.

MIX:

SLOPE:

INTERNAL CONTROL:

Blends between the dry signal (counterclockwise), and the EQ signal (clockwise). Use the blend to roll off the strength of the bass and treble cuts.

Toggles each band between a 1-pole and 2-pole cut filter. More poles = sharper frequency rolloff.

The internal MAKEUP trimpot sets the makeup gain of the dry signal path. This trimpot lets you set the relative volume of the EQ and dry signal paths, or you can use it to add even more clean boost to the dry signal path.

MIX:

SLOPE:

INTERNAL CONTROL:

Blends between the dry signal (counterclockwise), and the EQ signal (clockwise). Use the blend to roll off the strength of the bass and treble cuts.

Toggles each band between a 1-pole and 2-pole cut filter. More poles = sharper frequency rolloff.

The internal MAKEUP trimpot sets the makeup gain of the dry signal path. This trimpot lets you set the relative volume of the EQ and dry signal paths, or you can use it to add even more clean boost to the dry signal path.

Neutrik Jacks:

Power:

We use switched Neutrik audio jacks that also function as the on/off switch. Pull out the input jack to turn the power off.

Can be powered by standard 9V to 15V DC power supply, or with a 9V battery.

Paint:

Graphics:

Our enclosures are drilled and painted by Pedal Parts Plus in Louisiana. PPP offers over 100 different amazing paint colors, and you can choose your paint color in our custom shop.

Starting in May 2014, we are using UV LED printed graphics. This type of graphic offers superior durability and clarity over traditional silkscreen graphics.

This type of graphic also requires no chemicals to burn a silkscreen & a very quick setup process, which means you can upload your own high-resolution graphic in our custom shop!

TrueSoft

Bypass:

DualMode

Switching:

LED Brightness:

Carling Footswitch:

All VFE Pedals use true bypass relay switching combined with effect-side FET switching. This makes for pure and smooth switching that is rated for a longer lifetime than you.

DualMode is a unique VFE feature that lets you setup the footswitch for momentary operation (press & hold = on, release = off). To activate, wait 5 seconds and then press tap+tap+hold until LED flashes.

Just because we can, there's an internal trimpot to set the LED brightness just the way you like it.

The part that you step on shouldn't be made cheap. We use rugged, industrial grade Carling footswitches in all our pedals.

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Demos

How It Works

Features

Tech Specs

Story

FOCUS BLOCK DIAGRAM

Click on any section to learn more

The input stage of the Focus is a simple, unity-gain buffer. This sets up the signal for everything to come...

The output section blends the dry signal path back into the EQ. Pull the MIX knob back to create a gentler EQ curve - think of the mix knob as setting the maximum cut of each filter.

The LEVEL knob sets the gain of this stage.

Be warned...the Focus can get crazy LOUD!

The first step in the EQ path is the variable high pass filter. "High pass" is just the nerdy way of saying "low cut". The TIGHT knob sets the corner frequency where the bass begins to roll off, from 70Hz up to 1.5kHz

There are actually two high pass filters that are both ganged together by the TIGHT knob. You can select whether one or two of these filters are active with the SLOPE switch.

The one pole position yields a gentler cut, for when you only need to cut a little mud. Use the two pole for steeper cuts. This can be set for extreme treble-boosting, or set a mild cut to eliminate a boomy low end.

Sandwiched between the cut filters is a makeup gain stage.

You can set the amount of makeup gain via an internal trimpot.

Next up is the variable low pass, or treble cut. We put this stage last to let it minimize any small bits of noise generated by the other stages.

The SMOOTH knob sets the corner frequency of the cut filters, from 320Hz up to 7.2kHz. This stage can also be setup with one or two filters engaged via the SLOPE switch.

Set this control to smooth gritty distortion artifacts in your tone, or pull it way back to cut out the attack for a round, dark tone (I'm looking at you, jazz players).

USA Made PCBs

PRP Audio Resistors

Our circuit boards are made in the USA by Advanced Circuits (large PCB runs) or OSH Park (small PCB runs).

We used low noise, low inductance resistors made for audio circuits by Precision Resistive Products in the USA.*

*Alpha Dog & Alpha Dog Glass only.

Extended Headroom

DualMode Switching

A simple voltage inverter circuit was used to effectively turn 9V into 18V. More voltage means more headroom & bigger tone.

DualMode Switching can convert the footswitch into momentary operation.

To use, wait 5 seconds, then press the sequence tap+tap+hold until LED flashes.

All VFE Pedals are built by hand in Puyallup, WA and include:

- Rugged diecast aluminum enclosures

- DualMode standard or momentary switching operation

- Industrial-grade Carling switches & Neutrik audio jacks

- Alpha pots soldered directly to PCB

- 5% WIMA film capacitors & 1% metal film resistors

- Ultra-pure, eutectic silver solder

- 1 year warranty on parts & labor

DIMENSIONS:

Enclosure dimensions: 2.37"W x 4.37"L x 1.16"H (60 x 111 x 29mm)

With knobs & jacks: 2.6"W x 4.4"L x 2.1"H (66 x 111 x 53mm)

POWER:

Standard 2.1mm, negative-tip 9V to 15V power supply or 9V battery.

INPUT IMPEDANCE:

450K-ohm

CURRENT DRAW:

~30ma continous

+30ma surge for 4ms during on/off switching

DIMENSIONS:

Enclosure dimensions: 2.37"W x 4.37"L x 1.16"H (60 x 111 x 29mm)

With knobs & jacks: 2.6"W x 4.4"L x 2.1"H (66 x 111 x 53mm)

POWER:

Standard 2.1mm, negative-tip 9V to 15V power supply or 9V battery.

INPUT IMPEDANCE:

450K-ohm

BY THE NUMBERS:

22 RESISTORS

22 CAPACITORS1 INDUCTOR

2 TRANSISTORS

5 DIODES

3 OP AMPS

3 INTEGRATED CIRCUITS5 POTENTIOMETERS4 SWITCHES

3 JACKS2 CIRCUIT BOARDS

CURRENT DRAW:

~30ma continous

+30ma surge for 4ms during on/off switching

HOW THE FOCUS CAME TO BE

THE STORY

"My idea for the Focus came from many years of using various overdrive pedals to boost the front end of high-gain amps, taking advantage of the natural high- and low-end filtering those pedals have, which results in the unmistakably tightened and smoothed sound heard from countless rock and metal players both live and on recording. Pretty soon I realised that using this common overdrive EQ and combining it with a clean boost could accomplish the same result without the unnecessary clipping stage of an overdrive pedal. By making the filters adjustable, the player could completely fine tune the response of their guitar and amplifier without being stuck with the fixed filters of their usual boost pedal. I approached Peter at VFE and he understood what I was after straight away - the Focus was born very soon afterwards."